Take Grumpy for a Disney Cruise

Joanne Elves, Calgary Herald04.05.2012

Disney Cruise Line now has four ships in its fleet offering sailings to suit everybody. The kids have their space and even Grumpy can find somewhere to relax including the adult only pool.Handout photo
/ Disney Cruise Lines

Cycling was a favourite activities of kids at Castaway Cay during a Disney cruise.Handout photo
/ Disney Cruise Lines

Disney is the only cruise line to do fireworks at sea.Handout photo
/ Disney Cruise Lines

Cruises are not for everyone. But what if some people in the house want to go on a cruise while others are well, just plain Grumpy?

With the recent launch of the Disney Fantasy, there are even more adventures at sea. Disney Cruise Line offers sailings from three to seven days on any of four ships and, depending on the time of year you can sail the Caribbean waters, the Atlantic, or to the Pacific along Mexico, or up through the Inside Passage to Alaska.

We set sail on the Disney Wonder from the Los Angeles for a seven-day cruise down the Pacific coast of Mexico to Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas with two personalities in the group, Grumpy and Happy.

Happy, wasn't Bashful at all. As soon as the mandatory safety drill was completed she dashed away and was practically absent the entire trip. What do you expect from a 15-year-old? The last thing she cared about was how beautiful the state-room was or how cool the on-ship cellphone service was. All she wanted was a direct route to the teen club call Vibe.

First morning at sea, Grumpy was determined to be bored. But I wasn't going to let that happen. I started crafting our itinerary for the week. First thing was a booking in the Palo Restaurant on the top deck for a few evenings. Palo is an adult-only fine dining experience that you have to pay a few dollars extra for but it's worth it; the food is delicious. Then I booked Happy on a surfing excursion for our day docked at Cabo San Lucas. In Puerto Vallarta, we planned to use Happy's Spanish vocabulary to negotiate our way through the market.

Every morning before breakfast Grumpy and I went for a morning yoga stretch in the Vista Spa followed by a spin class to get the blood moving. One morning Goofy (yes, I really mean the real one) surprised us and walked into the exercise room. Another day as we pedalled our bikes, a pod of whales rode the wake beside the ship for 10 minutes. Not something you'd see at your health club at home, right?

By mid-morning a latte at either of the coffee shops became routine. Lunch was relaxing. We'd linger in Triton's over freshly made soups and crisp salads - often striking up conversations with other abandoned parents. More than once we were the last to leave.

Nightly dining was unique and we didn't get bored with the rotational program. Every evening we were at a different restaurant but accompanied by the same serving staff. That way our preferences were quickly learned - extra chocolate milk for Happy and a glass of red wine for Grumpy. Animator's Palate with the changing scenery was everyone's favourite.

Vibe, like all of Disney's age-specific kids clubs, nailed the activities perfectly - or so I'm told. I saw a mom try to get into Vibe to hand off a forgotten room key and yes - spy. She was met by the teen councillor and could go no further. It's a private party. I just know that when Happy journeyed back to the stateroom each night it was well beyond midnight.

The kids had the run of the ship with activities keeping them busy all day: tournaments, karaoke, scavenger hunts, games, pool parties, smoothie parties, guitar hero championships and just plain old chillin'. Best of all Happy made life-long friendships with teens from around the world.

When we roamed as a family, there was plenty to keep us occupied. It was Happy that pointed out how the noise level intensified as we walked toward the back of the ship. It wasn't the ship's motors but frolicking families. Three pools sprawl along deck 9 with Quiet Cove surrounded by lazing parents. Goofy's Pool was full of families having water fights and Mickey's Pool where the waterslide spills out next to a pool shaped like Mickey - a safe two feet deep. Screams of glee were non-stop.

After the mandatory "hang with the parents," Happy would leave and we'd find the daily beverage tasting seminar; wine, martinis, mojitos, whiskey or beer.

The evening entertainment in the Walt Disney theatre was great for all ages. When we docked at Cabo, the non-Disney entertainment switched so we had new headliners for the return to L.A. As the curtain fell after the show, Happy peeled away to her club and we'd drop down to the adult-only area of Route 66 where those acts would perform again but with a show aimed at an older audience.

Each evening we strolled to find a different club. At Wavebands we laughed at the antics of two nutty guys from Branson, Mo.

The Cadillac lounge pulled us in with soft and inviting music offered by Laurence Blackler, a smoky voiced Englishman and, if a sports game was to be had, Diversions felt like the local pub.

By the end of the cruise, Grumpy wasn't grumpy anymore and actually admitted that even though it was a week surrounded by Disney he had not been bombarded by Disney tunes, characters or music as expected.

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